Almost 2 in 10 students aged 11-16 have an identifiable mental health condition – which rises to 1 in 5 among 17-22 year olds. Problems are often hidden, stigma is still widespread, and many young people are not receiving support to access services. Secondary schools have a vital role to play in supporting young people’s mental health. Schools can develop young people’s social and emotional skills, and help those students who are having difficulties get the support they need.
Salford City Academy's Vision
We aspire to become a mentally healthy school: one that adopts a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing. Our whole-school approach will involve all parts of the school working together and being committed. We will develop partnership working between senior leaders, teachers and all school staff, as well as students, parents, carers and the wider community.
As part of the Thrive in Education model, we will provide targeted support for young people's emotional health and wellbeing. This model offers a co-ordinated response with multi agency joint working and a dedicated ‘mental health support team’ (MHST). The model was developed in response to the Mental Health in Education Green Paper.
Salford City Academy's Mental Health Lead is Mrs Laura Dawson, Assistant Principal - SEND & Wellbeing. Please email laura.dawson@salfordcity-academy.org if you have any questions or comments.
Salford City Academy Mental Health & Wellbeing Initiatives and Interventions - Our Offer
- Student Wellbeing Ambassadors – 15 voluntary members across Y7-11
- Staff Wellbeing Committee – 17 voluntary members across both teaching and support staff
- #BeeWell - we are excited to participate in this wellbeing measurement and improvement framework for secondary schools in Greater Manchester. Experts from The University of Manchester and the Anna Freud Centre are working with leaders from Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the city-region’s secondary schools on a major new project that will survey children in Y8 & 10 about their wellbeing and preparedness for life beyond school, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- School Mental Health Award - we are delighted to have made a pledge to achieve this nationally recognised award. The award ensures schools are using evidence-based approaches that align to professional and government guidelines. Utilising a developmental framework, the Academy will evaluate current mental health practices, identify gaps, develop and strengthen these and work towards building an emotionally healthier environment. Through this process, the Academy will commit to making mental health a strategic priority and developing a positive culture that promotes mental wellbeing for everyone.
- Emotionally Friendly Schools - SCA are committed to this flexible, whole-school approach designed to improve children's mental health and wellbeing. It is supported by Salford Educational Psychology Service. The focus is on four key areas: Staff Wellbeing and School Ethos, Classroom Practice, Assessing Children's Needs, Supporting Individual Children.
- Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) pathway - Collaboration between the following services will offer support to school staff, parents, and young people who are struggling to attend school: Education Welfare Service, Early Help Team, Educational Psychology Service, Primary Inclusion Team (PIT), CAMHS (including IReach), Place2Be and 42nd Street
- In-school counselling - students can be referred for emotional support via their Inclusion Leader
- Anger Management – small group intervention which runs weekly for a 6 week period
- Positive Minds – building self esteem and/ or anxiety management - small group intervention which runs weekly for a 6 week period
- Bespoke tutor time support – as required
- Friendship Club / Games Club - offered to Y7 & 8 every lunchtime - provides a safe and nurturing indoor space supervised by a member of our teaching assistant team
- Aspire programme - weekly Wellbeing Club and Kindness Club, where specific students are targeted for additional nurture and support
- Other key partners: 42nd Street, Salford CAMHS, Early Help, iReach, Place2Be, Salford Educational Psychology Service, City Wall
All students that access the small group interventions are baselined using the Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (students, parent, teacher views). These are repeated at the end of the 6 week intervention to assess impact.
Student Wellbeing Ambassadors
Main responsibilities:
- Promoting awareness and sharing information with students and staff regarding key events on the Mental Health & Wellbeing Calendar
- Leading World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Week assemblies to all students
- Collaborative planning with Staff Wellbeing Committee regarding joint fundraising and whole school initiatives (including development of a Wellbeing Offer for both staff and students)
- Supporting identified students (training via Ms Bell – School Counsellor)
- Engagement in the Peer to Peer Support programme in liaison with IYSS (more info to be confirmed Autumn 2 term)
- Signposting students to additional support as required (post box, QR codes, social media drives and development of website)
- Communicating with Ms Haselden and Senior Leaders to share barriers and solutions to promoting whole school mental health awareness and wellbeing